Picker or feed mechanism for stacked items



United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee PICKER OR FEED MECHANISM FOR STACKED [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,954,225 9/1960 Novick 27l/29X 3,424,452 1/1969 Jones 271/29 FOREIGN PATENTS 529,056 8/1921 France .4 271/]! Primary Examiner-Edward Ar Sroka Attorney-Roger L. Martin ABSTRACT: A picker mechanism for successively delivering normally flat items from a stack ofitems that has a suction element for use in bending an end portion of the stack end item ITEMS i to a position for engagement and withdrawal from the stack by Chims 15 Drawing Figs cooperating transfer rolls. The contact element has an orifice containing inclined surface used as an aid in withdrawing a US. Cl 271/32 corner portion of the item from its neighbor before the end Int. Cl B6$h 1/06 portion is bent, and a valve mechanism which is equipped with Field of Search 271/] l, 32, a torsion rod containing valve assembly provides a quick valv- 29 ing action in connecting the orifice with a vacuum source.

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PICKER OR FEED MECHANISM FOR STACKED ITEMS The invention relates to a feed or picker mechanism for successively delivering normally flat items from a stack thereof and has to do with picker mechanisms that are used for feeding such items as postal envelopes, cards, bank checks and similar items to such machines as punching or sorting machines or to tabulating or other data processing type equipment.

Practically all of the picker mechanisms used in data processing equipment found in the market place can be classified as being of the gate type since they use a restrictive passageway through which the card being delivered is advanced by an advancing mechanism. The passageway in such cases is only large enough to accommodate passage of one card at a time through the opening and the gate serves to prevent advancement of the neighboring card in the card stack. This type equipment has certain disadvantages in that cards which have inadvertently become bent or else are warped unduly due to atmospheric conditions are frequently incapable of passing through the gate opening and hence jam situations occur in the use of such mechanisms.

The mechanisms used for advancing the cards through the gate opening in high speed data processing equipment generally fall into two categories. In one category there is the type advancing mechanism which employs a reciprocating knifclike element that is roughly half the thickness of the cards being processed. This type element advances the card through the gate through contact with the trailing edge of the card at the delivery station. When the card is bent or warped at the trailing edge, the knife element frequently fails to register with the edge and consequently the problem of handling damaged data cards is aggravated. Those skilled in the art are well aware that considerable expense is involved in the replacement of damaged intelligence containing data cards.

Recent innovations in advancing mechanisms tend to overcome the problems which are resident in the inability of the knife type advancing mechanisms to encounter the trailing edge of bent and warped data cards. Among these innovations include those mechanisms in the other category and which rely on vacuum means for drawing the card to be advanced into facial contact with a continuously moving endless belt that serves to advance the card through the gate opening. This type advancing mechanism, although gaining acceptance in the market place, nevertheless must overcome the problem of sufficiently separating the card to be advanced from the neighboring card in the stack in order for atmospheric pressure conditions to be rapidly realized between the cards in the establishment of the pressure differential which draws or maintains the card in contact with the endless belt. This problem is generally overcome in this type advancing mechanism by the use of riffling air producing devices well known to those skilled in the art. This type equipment is capable of high speed operation but nevertheless is still confronted with all the problems that are resident in the use of the restrictive gate type structures to limit the number of cards being delivered. In addition to this, suction type mechanisms of this nature tend to wear the data processing cards to a greater extent than the knife type advancing mechanisms since the card is at all times being positively drawn against a supporting surface as it is being advanced through the gate opening. As a result replacement costs for worn and damaged cards are somewhat higher when this type advancing equipment is used.

In addition to the high speed picker mechanisms discussed above there is also a line of picker mechanisms which operate in the low and medium delivery rate ranges and which employ suction elements for seizing the card and delivering it through the gate opening. This type has a reciprocating suction element at the delivery station and which moves toward and away from the gate opening and in facial contact with the card. During the return stroke the element is in facial contact with the card next to be delivered and to avoid undue friction with the face during the return stroke, there is a need in this type advancing mechanism to provide a valve mechanism which will connect the suction element with a vacuum source at the commencement of the delivery stroke and thereafter disconnect the suction element at the completion of the stroke. The problem with this type advancing mechanism resides in its inability to attain high speed delivery rates because of the lag encountered in placing the system under reduced pressure conditions at the commencement of the stroke and which is occasioned by the natural delay in the valve action realized from the valve mechanisms currently being employed in such equipment.

The picker mechanisms described thus far are generally limited in use to the handling of data processing type cards and as a general rule are unacceptable for use in delivery of less rigid items such as bank checks and other sheetlike items of a less rigid nature than commonly found in use with data processing equipment. They are also incapable of handling thicker items such as letter containing envelopes or mail.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved picker mechanism for use in successively delivering normally flat items from a stack thereof.

One particular object of the invention is to provide a picker mechanism which can handle bent and warped cards and less rigid sheetlike items and without encountering the problems that are resident in the use of gate type separations means for insuring one by one successive delivery of the items from a stack.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a picker mechanism which employs suction means for seizing the item to be advanced and which avoids the need for using riffling air-type devices in order to aid in the separation of the item from its neighbor in the stack.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve mechanism for use in picker mechanisms which employ suction means for seizing items and which enables high speed delivery rates to be realized.

Yet another object is to provide improvements in picker mechanisms that can be used in the delivery of envelopes and the like, mail items to sorters and other equipment for handling and processing mail.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improvements which can jointly or singly be employed in picker mechanisms for handling flat items.

The picker mechanism forming the subject matter of the disclosure avoids the use of a gate type discharge opening and instead has a means for bending an end portion of the item to be delivered from the face of the neighboring item in the stack and to a bent position at which the end portion is engagable by a transfer mechanism that is provided for withdrawing the item from the stack.

The picker mechanism is automatic and includes a suction element for use in seizing and carrying the end portion to its bent position and a valve mechanism is provided in accord with one aspect of the invention to connect and disconnect the suction element with a vacuum source. In accord with another aspect of the invention, the need for use of a riffling air-type device in order to aid in the facial separation of the item from its neighbor is avoided by providing the suction element with an inclined contact surface portion which, at the pickup position for the suction element, confronts a corner portion of the item. Here and with respect to the normal position for the item at the delivery station the surface is inclined outwardly from the corner portion in the general direction of the corner formed at the merger ofthe item edges. The suction element is provided with an orifice which opens through the inclined surface and the arrangement at the time the end portion of the item is seized by virtue of a connection with a vacuum source is such that the end portion is capable of bending along a line extending between the merging edges so that the corner portion of the item can be drawn away from the confronting face of the neighboring item in the stack. This transpires prior to the withdrawal of the end portion to its bent position and by bending the corner portion of the item before the end portion is carried to its bent position, the creation of a vacuum between the confronting faces of the neighboring items at the instant of withdrawal of the end portion to its bent position is avoided, consequently the need for riffling air-type devices to alleviate this type situation is also avoided.

Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to the use of a novel valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the suction element with a vacuum source. In this respect the mechanism is provided with a valve assembly that includes a resilient valve component actuating element which is deformed at the time of initial movement of the valve component to effectuate its withdrawal from the valve seat and which rapidly carries the valve component to an open position as it recovers from the deformation.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an automatic data processing apparatus of the card reader type and which includes a picker mechanism that embodies the various concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the card reader as generally seen by the operator thereof and is taken generally along the lines 2-2 of FIG. I, certain parts of the apparatus being removed and other broken away and/or shown in a different position than that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of certain components of the picker mechanism as generally seen along the lines 3-3 of FIG. I with certain parts broken away and others removed.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 and shows certain components of the picker mechanism as seen in elevation, certain parts being broken away and others removed.

FIG. 5 is another section view with certain parts broken away and others removed and shows the general arrangement of the principal components of the picker mechanism as seen in a plane perpendicular to a mounting plate of the card reader and generally along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a fragment of the apparatus seen in FIG. 3 and in a view which is generally similar thereto but shows certain parts of the picker mechanism at one stage in the process of delivering a card from the card stack and wherein an end portion of the card is being bent away from its neighbor in the stack end to a bent position.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6 but shows the parts of the picker mechanism at yet a more advanced stage in the process of delivering the card from the card stack.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of certain parts of the picker mechanism and shows the means employed for connecting the movement of a solenoid arm with a finger assembly and valve assembly.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of certain parts ofthe finger assembly.

FIG. 10 is a section view through the valve mechanism and the finger assembly as generally seen along the lines 10-10 in FIG. 4.

FIG. I I is an enlarged section view through the valve chamber as generally seen along the lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12 through are enlarged views ofa diagramatic nature with parts broken away and others removed and serve to illustrate the valve action in relation to various positions successively assumed by the suction element as a card is bent from its normal position at the delivery station to a bent position for engagement and withdrawal from the stack, and also serve to illustrate the valve action during the return movement of the suction element to its pickup position.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 and wherein an automatic card reader for processing data contained in punched cards is generally designated at 10. The reader includes a chassis 11 which is supported on suitable legs 12 and has a generally rectangular mounting plate 13 on which various components of the reader are mounted. The mounting plate 13 is inclined at an approximate 45 angle, as seen in FIG. I, so that the operator has ready access to the card holders to be subsequently described.

The reader has a housing 14 for certain control components which form no part of the invention and, in addition to a control panel 15, the housing 14 has a back wall which is provided by an elongated plate 16 that is arranged transversely on and fixed perpendicular to the mounting plate 13 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. At the rear end of plate 13, chassis I] has another plate 17 which is fixed to and arranged perpendicular on the mounting plate [3. The various mechanisms mounted on plate 13 are covered by a cover 18 which is pivotally connected to plates 16 and 17 by aligned pins 19 that provide a pivot axis for movement of the cover 18 to the open position generally shown in FIG. 2.

The automatic picker mechanism embodying the concepts of the invention is generally designated at 20 and serves to deliver the punched cards successively from the feed hopper to a read head component 21 of the card reader. Here, the data contained in the cards is read and then processed by electronic components housed in another housing, designated at 22. A transfer mechanism 23 shown in the form of a pair of rolls 24 which are driven in the direction of arrows 25 and arranged to cooperate with a pair of spring mounted idler rolls 26 is provided at the read head. At the feed end of the read head, the card reader is provided with an arcuate guide plate 27 that is fixed to a block 28 mounted on plate 13. Plate 27 is arranged to cooperate with another guide plate 29 that is fixed to another block 30 on plate 13 so as to facilitate smooth entry of the cards into the feed end of the reader.

Mechanism 23 serves to carry the cards through the read head and to transfer the cards, in the normal course of operation of the card reader. to a stacker roll M which is driven in the direction of arrow 32. Roll 3i is arranged to cooperate with a spring mounted idler roll 33 in engaging the cards as they are delivered by mechanism 23 from the discharge end of the read head. At the discharge end of the read head 21, the card reader is provided with an arcuate guide plate 34 which is supported by a bracket 35 and arranged to guide the cards to the stacker roll. The cards are fed by the stacker roll 31 into the discharge hopper or magazine 36 and at the reception wall 37 of the hopper, the reader is provided with a pair of driven rolls 38 of conventional design and which are mounted on a pair of pivot arms 56 mounted in a housing designated at 47. Arms 56 are synchronized to pivotally carry the rolls 38 into contact with the end of the card stack 39 upon the opening of gate 44. This serves to bounce the card stack 39 away from wall 37 so that the card in passing through the entry throat of the hopper can then pass into the space between the stack and the wall 37 with the rolls then carrying the card into its proper place at the reception end of the stack. Once the card is received at the stack the gate 44 closes and the arms 56 are synchronized with the closing of the gate to pivot the rolls 38 back through the opening 48 provided in wall 37 to accommodate the pivotal movements of the rolls.

Gate 44 is used in sensing card jam situations that occasionally occur in the stacker mechanism and is pivotally moved about a pivot 45 to an open position 46 by a solenoid, not shown. The solenoid is actuated as the card reaches a predetermined position in the read head H to open the gate 44 and the return of the gate to the closed position is controlled in a time basis normally permitting the card to enter the stack 39. Inability of the gate 44 to close indicates a jam situation and triggers a switch, not shown, to shut down the card reader l0, so as to permit the situation to be corrected by the operator.

It may be noted at this point that the reader is provided with another inclined guide plate 42 which is fixed to a block 43 mounted on plate 13 at the discharge end of the card reader. The reader is also provided with a suitable gate that is pivotally mounted at the entry side of the stacker rolls 31. The

stacking mechanism comprising the rolls 38, 31 and 33, as well as the transfer mechanism 23 and read head 21 form no part of the invention and may be of conventional design well known in the art.

Plate 13 serves as the bottom wall of hopper 36 and suitable wall plates 49 and 50 are provided at the opposite sides of the hopper seen in FIG. 2. The card stack hopper 36 is also provided with a card follower 51 which is pivotally mounted by a pin 52 to one end of a pivot arm 53. Arm 53 is free to pivot on a block 54 which is secured to plate 13 adjacent wall 49 at the rear side of the hopper and is connected to the block by a pivot pin 55 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The follower. ofcourse. serves to support the end card in the stack and is gradually caused to pivot upwardly in a counterclockwise direction against the forces of gravity as the size of the stack increases during use of the card reader.

The picker mechanism forming the subject matter ofthe invention includes a feed hopper or holder 60 which is ada ted to receive and support a stack 61 of elongated generally rectangular punched cards that are preoriented in a face to face arrangement. In addition to the hopper 60, mechanism 20 has a suction mechanism 62 and a transfer mechanism 63. Mechanism 62 provides a means for bending the end portion of the card at the delivery station 88 of the hopper 60 to a bent position at which the card is engagable by components of the transfer mechanism to be subsequently described. The transfer mechanism 63 is arranged to engage the end portion of the card at its bent position and is provided for withdrawing the stack end card from the delivery station and the stack and for also delivering it along a path to the card reader in the illustrated embodiment.

The mounting plate 13 serves as the bottom wall of the feed hopper and the hopper 60 is provided with side walls 64 and 65 which are located at the opposite sides 66 and 67 of the hopper. Walls 64 and 65 confront the opposite card end sides 68 and 69 of the stack 61 and are spaced apart to accommodate a transverse arrangement of the cards 70 in the hopper. The hopper 60 has a follower 71 which is pivotally connected by a pin 72 to the outer end of an arm 73. Arm 73 is pivotally mounted by a pin 74 at its opposite end to another block 75 which, as seen in FIG. 1, is secured to plate 13, adjacent wall 64 and housing 47. The arrangement is such that the follower maintains contact with the card at the trailing end 76 of the card stack 61 by gravity as the cards are delivered from the mechanism 20 and serves to urge the cards toward the wall at the delivery end 77 ofthe card stack.

The hopper has a delivery station 88 at its delivery side 82 and here the hopper is provided with a wall component 78 that is supported transversely on plate 13 in the hopper structure. As the card next to be delivered is received at the station 88, it is received and supported by the wall component 78 and the wall component 78 of the hopper is so arranged as to support the card at the station 88 through contact with its outside face. The opposite ends 79 and 80 of the card support component 78 are offset inwardly from the adjacent side walls 64 and 65 and this arrangement provides an opening 81 at the delivery station 88 and which is adjacc nt side wall 64. Opening 81 is so arranged as to be confronted by the adjacent end portion of the card received at the station 88.

Walls 64 and 65 are spaced apart a slightly greater distance than the overall length of the cards 70 in the stack 61, and wall 64 is provided with a guide member 83 which serves to orient the ends of the cards for their reception at the card delivery station 88. The hopper is also provided with another guide component 84 at the delivery station 88 and this guide component, as seen in the drawings, is inclined to side wall 78 and is formed integral therewith at the adjacent end 79 of the support component 78. Guide 83 projects through the opening 81 in a converging arrangement with guide 84 to provide a throat 85 through which the cards are delivered to the card read head. Throat 85 is of the nonrestrictive type and merely provides a discharge passage for the card being delivered.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the chassis is provided with a cover plate 86 at the delivery side of the hopper. This cover plate serves to shield the various moving components at the delivery side of the hopper from the operator and. as seen in FIG. 1. overlaps the hopper area and is there beveled at its underside to facilitate the card stack arrangement.

Suction mechanism 62 includes a finger assembly 90, a device for pivotally moving the assembly 90 and which is shown in the form of a solenoid 91. a connecting mechanism 92 for linking the movement of the solenoid arm with the finger assembly, a vacuum source shown in the form of a vacuum pump 93, and a valve mechanism 94 which is connected with certain orifices of the finger assembly and with the vacuum source as indicated subsequently.

The finger assembly 90 includes an elongated hollow suction element 95 used in seizing the card at the delivery station and the element has opposite ends, designated respectively at 96 and 97. The pivot end 97 of element 95 has a boss 98 which is provided with a cylindrical pivot member 100 which is press fit at one ofits ends 101 in the boss opening 99. Pivot member 100 extends through a bushing 102 mounted in plate 13 adjacent end 79 of wall component 78 in the illustrated embodiment and here establishes an axis 103 for pivotal movement of the suction element 95. The axis is parallel to the outside face of the card at the delivery station and the arrangement is such that the axis extends transversely of the card and is generally located between its opposite ends.

Plate 13 has a rectangular opening 105 which is best seen in FIG. 3. and solenoid 91 is mounted on a plate type bracket 106 which is spaced beneath plate 13 by suitable sleeve type spacers 107 and suspended from the plate 13 by suitable fasteners designated at 108. The solenoid 91 is fastened to the underside of bracket 106 by bolt type fasteners 110 and the bracket has an opening 111 to facilitate an arrangement of the solenoid pivot arm 109 at the upper side of the bracket.

The connecting mechanism 92 includes a bell crank 112 and this crank is mounted for pivotal movement on bracket 106 by means of a pivot pin 113. Bracket 106 has an armlike plate extension 114 which generally projects toward the opening 81 in the hopper and has a block 115 that is fixed to the upper side of the bracket. Block 115 is provided with a suitable arm 116 which is generally spaced from and aligned with the bracket arm 114. Pin 113 is generally located between arms 114 and 116 and is journaled in these arms at its opposite ends. Crank 112 as seen in FIG. 8 is formed by two plates 117 and 118 which are rigidly spaced apart by pin 113 and by another pin designated at 119. Plate 118 is provided with an angled extension 120 which serves as one arm of the bell crank 112. Arm 120 is connected in movement with the solenoid pivot arm 109 by means of a connecting link 121. Link 121 is pivotally connected to solenoid arm 109 at one end by means of a pivot pin 122 and at its other end to the crank arm 120 by means of another pivot pin 123.

Pin 119 is mounted on the other arm 124 of the crank and in addition to rigidly securing plates 117 and 118 in spaced relation also serves as a support for a pinch roll component of the transfer mechanism 63 as will be subsequently evident. The suction element 95 is connected in movement to arm 124 by means of a link 125 which is pivotally connected to the arm 124- by means ofa pivot pin 126 located adjacent pin 119. The suction element 95, on the other hand, is connected to the link by means of a pivot pin 127 which is journaled in a boss 128 at the outer end 96 of element 95.

The valve mechanism 94 includes a valve chamber 130 which is mounted on the chassis beneath plate 13 by means not shown. Chamber 130 has an inlet forming component 131 which is connected to certain orifices provided in the finger assembly by means which include a flexible tube element 132. The upper end of tube 132 communicates with the hollow 133 of pivot member 100, as seen in FIG. 10, and member 100 has an opening 134 which communicates with the hollow 135 in the suction element 95 of the finger assembly 90. It may be mentioned at this point, that tube element 132 is capable of twisting between its opposite ends to accommodate the pivotal movement of the pivot component 100 in the bushing I02.

The arrangement. of course, establishes continuous communication between the orifices and the valve chamber inlet.

In addition to the inlet forming component, chamber 130 is provided with an outlet forming component 136 that is connected by a flexible conduit I37 to the intake 138 of vacuum pump 93 so as to provide communication between the vacuum source and chamber outlet. Within the chamber the outlet component is provided with an annular resilient member 139 that forms a valve seat for the valve component of the mechanism.

The valve assembly I40 of mechanism 94 comprises a resilient member which is shown in the form of an elongated torsion rod I41 which is arranged with its longitudinal axis 142 in coaxial arrangement with the pivot axis 103 for the suction element 95. The lower end 143 of the torsion rod 14! as seen in FIG. I fits in an appropriate socket 144 in the bottom plate I45 of the valve chamber 130 and here the assembly is provided with a flat rectangular metal plate 146 that is housed in the chamber serves as the valve component of the assembly I40. The plate 146 more or less extends radially of the longitudinal axis I42 from one side of the rod. seen in the drawings. and in an arrangement such as to cooperate with the valve seat I39 in opening and closing the chamber outlet in a valving action to be subsequently described. Rod 14I serves as a means for actuating and moving the valve component and extends through the inlet 13!, the flexible tube I32 and thence through the hollow 133 of the pivot member I00. As seen in FIG. I0, the upper end I48 of rod I41 has a cylindrical enlargement 149 which fits in an opening I50 at the upper end of the pivot element 100 as seen in FIG. 10. Here the rod 141 is releasably secured to the finger assembly for pivotal movement with element 95 by means ofa set screw I51 in the pivot member I00 which permits the valve assembly to be adjusted. By arranging the rod to extend through the inlet, the need for packing or other sealing means is avoided. Rod 141 as will be subsequently seen is capable of being deformed between its opposite ends during the normal action of the valve mechanism and the arrangement also avoids structural interference with such deformation.

The transfer mechanism 63 has a driven roll I55 which is constantly driven in the direction of arrow 156 (FIG. 6) by means of a belt 157 that is trained over a pulley I58 at one end of a shaft component I59 of the mechanism 63. The driven roll [55 is keyed to shaft I59 adjacent its upper end as the arrungcment is seen in FIG. and the upper end of the shaft is ournaled in bearing I60 supported in an arm 16] that is mounted on a block I62 fixed to the upper side of plate I3. The shaft extends through the rectangular opening in plate I3 and below the plate the shaft is journaled in a bearing 163 supported in an arm I64 which in turn is fixed to a block 165 that is secured at the underside of plate 13.

The driven roll I55 is so arranged as to encounter the outside face of the card at its bent position, as will be subseq uently seen. and a pinch roll 167 is provided in the transfer mechanism to cooperate with the drive roll I55 in engaging the end portion. The pinch or idler roll 167 is mounted for free rotation on pin I19 as seen in the drawings and is carried in and out of the throat area during the operation of the mechanism on the crank armd24 in a manner to be subsequently described.

The stack end card at the delivery station is designated at 170 in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 and is received at the station before the suction element 95 returns from its offset position I85 (FIG. 7) to its pickup position 174 (FIG. 3), in the normal operation of the picker. As received at the station. the card 170 is supported in its normal position by the support or hopper wall component 78 and is in facial contact throughout its entire length between its opposite ends. 172 and 176 with the confronting face of the neighboring card 175 in the stack 6]. As thus supported at the delivery station. the end 79 of side wall 78 is offset inwardly from the adjacent end 172 of the card 170 and, as such. the end portion 173 of the end card 170 confronts the opening 81 into the throat area of the hopper.

The components of the finger assembly 90, the connecting mechanism 92 and the solenoid 91 are shown in FIG. 3 at their normal positions prior to activation of the solenoid 91 and under such circumstances the suction element 95 is at its pickup position 174. The pins 126 and I27 which pivotally connect link to the crank arm I24 and to the suction element 95 provide relatively loose pivotal connections. Consequently, the suction element 95 is adapted to override the pickup position, depicted in solid lines at 174. as the element 95 returns to the pickup position, and may. for example. assume a position such as depicted in broken lines at 179 upon returning from the offset position 185. This extra amount of play in the connection permits the suction element 95 to assume facial contact with the end card even though the end portion is displaced from its normal position because of warpage or an abnormal bend in the card at the facial area contacted by the element 95. In this respect it will be noted that the boss 98 at the pivot end 97 of the suction element 95 is provided with a face plate I80 and that block 162 is provided with a screw element l8I which by adjustment in the block I62 can be arranged for contact by the plate 180 to limit the override of the suction element 95 as it reaches the pickup position.

Now the solenoid 91 for moving the suction element between its pickup and offset positions is spring loaded to assume the normal position shown in FIG. 3 and is actuated automatically upon command by receiving a power pulse from the electronic components housed in housing 22. Actuation of solenoid 91 causes arm I09 to pivot in the direction of arrow I82 (FIG. 3) and by virtue of its linkage with arm I09. this movement causes the bell crank to pivot in the direction of arrow I83. This pivotal movement of the bell crank in turn causes the suction element 95 by virtue of its linkage with crank arm 124 to pivot in the direction of arrow 184. As will be subsequently seen, the suction element s adapted to seize the end portion I73 of the card when it arrives at its pickup position 174 and hence actuation of the solenoid causes the pivot element 95 to carry the end portion 173 away from the confronting face 178 of the neighboring card 175 through the opening 81 into the throat area, as indicated in FIG. 6, by the arrangement at one point in time during the interval of movement of the suction element 95 from its pickup position 174 to its offset position 185.

As will be subsequently seen, the end portion I73 is released from the suction element 95 at a bent position during the interval of movement of the suction element 95 from the pickup position 174 to the offset position 185. and. during the interval. the crank arm 124 carries the pinch roll 167 into the space 186 between the inside face 187 of the end card and the end card confronting face I78 of the adjacent card 175 in stack 61. The pinch roll 167 thus comes into facial contact with the inside face I87 of the end card and carries the end portion into facial contact with the face of the driven roll I55 as the suction element 95 procedes to its offset position 185 shown in FIG. 7. The end portion is thus engaged between rolls and 167 and the end card is withdrawn from the stack and delivered along the path to the read head in the direction of arrow 189. Thereafter. as the card reaches a predetermined position at which the card has cleared the throat 85 and which is sensed by the read head the solenoid is automatically deenergized so that under the influence of the solenoid spring the components return to their normal positions and thus carry the suction element back to its pickup position I74.

The structure of the suction element which permits the card to be seized at the pickup position and then withdrawn to a bent position without the need for riffling air-type devices is best seen in FIGS. 4. 5, 8 and 9. As thus seen in FIG. 5. the suction element 95 has a contact surface 191 between its opposite ends 96 and 97 and which is arranged to contact the outside face 171 of the end card along a portion of the longitudinal edge 192 which is adjacent the lower most corner 193 (see FIG. 4) at the end 172 of the card. Now the suction element 95 shown is adapted for use with punched cards and wherein those skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the facial area available for the operation of a suction element is generally limited to the border areas of the card because of the punched holes in the cards. As such, the suction element 95 is provided at its outer end 96 with a shoe 194 that extends the contact surface availability of the element into the border area along a portion of the transverse card edge 195 adjacent to corner 193. Other arrangements of course may be used where the item has greater surface availability for the suction element.

The contact surface 191 comprises the planer surface portion 196 which falls in the general plane of the card face 171 when the element is at the pickup position and an inclined surface portion 197 which is generally inclined to the plane of surface portion 196. At the commencement of its return from the offset position to the pickup position, this contact surface 191 is generally inclined to an offset from the outside face of the card at the delivery station. In addition to the contact surface 191, the suction element 95 has an arcuate surface 190 at its boss end and which merges with surface 191. This surface 190 is arranged to swing into facial contact with the card as the end portion is carried to its bent position and aids in guiding the card from the stack as it is withdrawn from the delivery station. At the pickup position for the suction element 95, the inclined surface portion 197 facially confronts a corner portion 201 of the card which is located at the corner 193 formed by the merger of the side edges 192 and 195. Here the surface portion 197 is so arranged with respect to the normal position of the corner portion 20 at the delivery station 88 as to be inclined to both the outside face 171 of the card and to each of the merging side edges 192 and 195 at the corner 193. Under such circumstances, the surface portion 197 is inclined outwardly from the corner portion 201 in the general direction of the corner 193.

This arrangement permits the card end portion 173 to bend alon a line 209 which extends between the merging edges I92 and 195 and enables a pressure differential to be established across the corner portion 201 when the element 95 is at the pickup position so as to draw the corner portion 20] away from the confronting face 178 of the neighboring card 175 and into contact with the inclined surface portion 197. Once this has happened the end portion 173 of the card 170 can be carried to its bent position without withdrawing the end portion of the neighboring card 175. In practice, an element 95 having a surface portion 197 which is inclined at about 4 to the plane of the card face 171 at the pickup position and which is arranged in a plane that intersects the plane of the card face along a line 209 (see FIG. 5) that is angularly arranged at about 45 to each of the side edges 192 and 195 at the corner portion 201 has been found to be admirably suitable for use with conventional punched cards, although surfaces which deviate from this preferred arrangement will also be found to provide acceptable results both with conventional unched cards and other sheetlike items. The suction element 95 is provided with orifice means which communicate with the hollow portion 135 of the element and open to the exterior of the element through the contact surface 191 so as to provide, when the orifices are connected to the vacuum source, a means for establishing a differential pressure across the end portion of the card and which will serve to attach the end portion to the suction element 95. In the embodiment illustrated. two relatively small orifices 198 and 199 are arranged to open through the surface portions 196 and 197 respectively and a relatively larger rectangular orifice 200 is provided at the shoe I94 end of the inclined surface portion 197. Orifices 199 and 200. when connected to the vacuum source, provide a means for establishing a differential pressure across the corner portion 201 of the card at the corner 193 and which serves to draw the corner portion 201 away from the confronting face 178 of the neighboring card 175 and into facial contact with the inclined surface portion 197 as seen in FIG. 4. This withdrawal of the corner portion 201 from the face of the adjacent card transpires while the suction element 95 is at the pickup position and before the element is moved from its pickup position 174 to its offset position 185. Consequently, when the solenoid is actuated to bend the card end portion 173 to its bent position 188, a space is available between the corner portion 201 and the neighboring card 175 for inward movement of air to relieve the partial vacuum which would otherwise normally be created by the withdrawal of the card end portion to its bent position.

The operation of the valve mechanism is best understood by reference to FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 and wherein the valve action is shown in conjunction with the movement of the suction element from its pickup position 174, shown in FIG. 12, to its offset position 185 shown in FIG. 15. As previously indicated, the torsion rod 141 is arranged coaxial with the pivot axis 103 and is secured at its upper end 148 to the finger assembly so that this end 148 of the rod is synchronized for pivotal movement with the suction element of the finger assembly 90. The valve component 146 is arranged at the other end 143 to operate at the side of rod 141, and the valve assembly is so arranged in its connection with the finger assembly that the valve component 146 is adapted to seat itself against the valve seat 149 at a preselected position, designated at 203 in FIG. 13, reached by the suction element during the interval of movement from the pickup position 174 to the offset position 185.

The suction element 95 is shown in the pickup position 174 in FIG. 12 and when the element is in this position, the valve component 146 is at a fully open position with respect to the seat 139. As such, the orifices are connected and thus communicate with the vacuum source and the end portion 173 of the card 170 at the delivery station is attached by suction to the contact surface 191. Thereafter when the solenoid 91 is actuated, suction element 95 is caused to pivot in the direction of arrow 204 shown in FIG. 12. By virtue of the torsion rod connection with the finger assembly 90, this movement of the suction element 95 causes the rod to actuate the valve component 146 and pivotally move it about the axis of rod 141 in the same direction and until it seats itself against the valve seat 139 in an outlet closed position. At this point, seen in FIG. 13, the suction element 95 is at an intervening position 203 and at which the pinch roll 167 is in the process of moving into the space 186 between the end portion of the card 170 and the neighboring card 175. The valve seat 139, of course, resists further pivotal movement of the valve component 146 in the direction of arrow 204 and consequently, as the element 95 thereafter continues to pivot to the offset position 185 shown in FIG. 15, the torsion rod 141 merely twists between its opposite ends 143 and 148 under the torque applied to its upper end by the finger assembly. When the valve component 146 closes the outlet as seen in FIG. 13, the orifices are, of course, disconnected from the vacuum source. There is however a slight lag in time before the end portion is released from the element 95 due to the time interval required for the chamber to reach atmospheric pressure conditions and hence, element 95 continues to carry the end portion 173 until it is released from the contact surface at a release position for the element 95 and which is generally indicated at 205 in FIG. 14. During the time interval required for the chamber to reach a sufficiently high enough pressure to permit release of the card from the contact surface 191, the pinch roll 167 as shown in FIG. 14 has passed into the space 186 and has come into facial contact with the inside face 187 of the end portion at its bent position 188. Thereafter as the element 95 continues to pivot in the direction of arrow 204 to its offset position 185, the pinch roll 167 carries the end portion into facial contact with the driven roll and which of course causes the end card to be withdrawn from the delivery station.

As the card is delivered to the read head 21, the next card in the stack is received at the delivery station 88 and thereafter the solenoid is deenergized and the suction element 95 starts its return to the pickup position I74. As the suction element 95 moves from the offset position 185 to position 203 during the return stroke, the torsion rod 141 merely recovers from its twisted condition However, as the suction element continues to pivot from the position 203 at which the torsion rod 141 is in an unstressed condition (FIG. 13) to the pickup position 174, the pressure differential across the valve component at its closed position resists withdrawal of the valve component 146 from the valve seat 139. As a result the torsion rod 14! is caused to twist in the direction of arrow 206 (P16. 13) under the torque applied to the valve assembly at the upper end N8 of the rod during the interval of movement of the suction element 95 from position 203 to position 174. However, as the element 95 arrives at the pickup position 174 the torque applied to the valve component by the rod 141 is sufficient to overcome the resistance to withdrawal of the valve component 146 from the seat 139. Consequently as the suction element 95 arrives at its pickup position 174, the rod actuates the valve component as it starts to recover from its twisted or deformed condition and then rapidly moves the valve component 146 from its closed position to the open position shown in FIG. 12. This rapid opening of the outlet almost instantaneously places the orifices under reduced pressure conditions that create a pressure differential across the card at the delivery station and which immediately attaches the end portion of the card to the suction element and causes the corner portion l to bend away from the neighboring card. Thereafter, the cycle repeats itself in the normal operation of the picker mechanism. The picker mechanism forming the subject matter of the disclosure herein has a wide range of operation and may be operated in the so-called high speed ranges wherein it is common to process 800 to 1,000 cards per minute and may also be operated at card processing rates therebelow.

It may be well at this point to point out some of the features embodied in the picker mechanism forming the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. For one, by providing a means for bending the card at the delivery station away from its neighbor and to a position at which it can be withdrawn from the stacks by a transfer mechanism, the need for using a gate and hence the problems which are encountered in delivering bent cards due to the use of such gates are eliminated. Furthermore, by use ofa suction element which is provided with an inclined surface and so adapted and arranged at the pickup position to withdraw a corner portion of the card from the face of its neighbor, the need for using riffling air-type devices to facilitate the establishment of a diffcrential pressure across the card is also avoided. Still further, by virtue of the quick acting valve mechanism high processing rates can be realized since the lag in valve action resident in the use of more conventional valve mechanisms is overcome through use of the resilient torsion element. It will readily occur to those skilled in the art to employ a stop for dislodging the end portion from the suction element at the bent position in contrast to using a valve mechanism. The valve mechanism however has the advantage over this type of approach in that the power requirements for providing a suitable vacuum source are materially reduced through use of the valve mechanism.

The invention has of course been described in detail as embodied in equipment for processing data cards. In contrast to this, the picker mechanism disclosed and the various improvements embodied in the picker mechanism may be employed in devices for handling less rigid items such as bank checks and the like. Certain principles of the invention may also be used in handling such items as envelopes containing mail and wherein there is no problem in separating an item from the face of its neighbor in a stack and wherein a simple suction element may be used to bend an end portion of an envelope to a position for engagement by the transfer rolls.

Thus, while only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

lclaim:

1. in a picker mechanism for successively delivering normally flat items from a stack thereof and which includes a suction element for use in seizing the items, a vacuum source, and a valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the suction element and the vacuum source; the improved valve mechanism which includes a valve chamber having an inlet communicating with the suction element, an outlet communicating with the vacuum source and a valve seat located at the outlet; the improved valve mechanism further including a valve component which is movable between open and closed outlet positions with respect to said valve seat and which is resisted in withdrawal from the valve seat by the pressure differential across the valve component at its closed position, and resilient means, said resilient means being movable to overcome and becoming deformed in overcoming such resistance to withdrawal of the valve component from the valve seat and being adapted and arranged to move said valve component from its closed position to its open position during recoveq/ from such deformation.

2. ln a picker mechanism for successively delivering normally flat items from a stack thereof and which includes a suction element for use in seizing the items, a vacuum source, and a valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the suction element and vacuum source; the improved valve mechanism which includes a valve chamber having an inlet communicating with the suction element, an outlet communicating with the vacuum source, and a valve seat located at the outlet; the improved valve mechanism further including a valve component which is pivotally movable between open and closed outlet positions with respect to said valve seat and which is resisted in withdrawal from the valve seat by the pressure differential across the valve component at its closed position, and an elongated torsion element having opposite ends; said torsion element being mounted for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis and being connected to said valve component at one of its opposite ends, said valve component being pivotally movable between its open and closed positions by pivotal movement imparted to the torsion element at the other of its opposite ends, and said torsion element being resiliently deformable between its opposite ends in overcoming such resistance to withdrawal of the valve component from the valve seat and being arranged to carry said valve component from its closed position to its open position during its recovery from such deformation.

3. in a picker mechanism for successively delivering normally flat items from a stack thereof and which includes a suction element for use in seizing the items, a vacuum source, and a valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the suction element and the vacuum source; the improvement comprising means establishing a pivot axis for pivotal movement of the suction element between a first position at which an item is seized and a second position pivotally offset from the first position, and the improved valve mechanism which includes a valve chamber having an inlet communicating with the suction element, an outlet communicating with the vacuum source, and a valve seat in the chamber at said outlet; the improved valve mechanism further including a valve component which is pivotally movable between open and closed outlet positions with respect to the valve seat and which is resisted in withdrawal from the valve seat by the pressure differential across the valve component at its closed outlet position, and an elongated torsion rod which extends through the inlet and is arranged with its longitudinal axis in a coaxial arrangement with said pivot axis; said torsion rod having opposite ends and being connected with the suction element at one of its opposite end and thereat pivotally movable therewith, said torsion rod being secured to said valve component at the other of its opposite ends and thereat adapted to pivotally move said valve component about its longitudinal axis between the open and closed outlet positions therefor, said torsion rod being adapted to twist between its opposite ends in overcoming the resistance to withdrawal of the valve component from the valve seat and to carry said valve component from its closed outlet position to its open outlet position during its recovery from such twisting.

4. An automatic picker mechanism for successively delivering normally flat generally rectangular items from a stack thereof comprising a holder having a stack of such items suported therein, a suction mechanism for bending an end portion of the item at one end of the supported stack away from the neighboring stacked item adjacent thereto, and a transfer mechanism for withdrawing the bent stack end item from the supported stack; said suction mechanism including a vacuum source, a suction element for seizing the end portion of the stack end item having an item pickup position, and another position, and means connected with the suction element for moving the suction clement between its pickup position and its other position; said suction element having a contact surface that includes an inclined surface portion which is arranged to facially confront a corner portion of the end portion of the stack end item at the pickup position for the suction element, and an orifice opening through said surface portion; said surface portion, at the pickup position for the suction element, being so oriented with respect to the normal position of the confronted corner portion as to be inclined outwardly therefrom in the general direction of the corner formed thereat by the merging edges of the stack end item, and said orifice being connected with the vacuum source at the pickup position for the suction element; whereby the corner portion is drawn into contact with said surface portion at the pickup position for the suction element.

5. An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 4 where said suction mechanism further includes a valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the vacuum source and orifice that includes a valve chamber which has an inlet communicating with said orifice, an outlet communicating with said vacuum source, and a valve seat located at said outlet, a valve component arranged in the chamber to cooperate with the valve seat in opening and closing said outlet and being movable with respect to the valve seat between open and closed outlet positions, and valve component actuating means connected in movement with the suction element and being responsive upon arrival of the suction element at its pickup position from its other position to actuate and move the valve component from its closed outlet position to its open outlet position, thereby to connect the orifice and vacuum source.

6. An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 4 where said suction mechanism further includes a valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the vacuum source and orifice that includes a valve chamber which has an inlet communicating with said orifice, an outlet communicating with said vacuum source, and a valve seat located at said outlet, a valve component arranged in the chamber to coo erate with the valve seat in opening and closing said outlet and being movable with respect to the valve seat between o en and closed outlet positions, and resilient valve component actuating means connected with the valve component and being deformable during movement of the suction element from its other position to its pickup position by a pressure differential resisting withdrawal of the valve component from the valve seat, said actuating means being adapted and arranged to actuate and move the valve component from its closed position to its open position by recovery from such deformation.

7. An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 6 where said actuating means is connected in movement with the suction element.

8. An automatic picker mechanism for successively delivering generally rectangular punched cards from a stack thereof comprising a holder having a stack of such cards supported therein, a suction mechanism for bending an end portion of the card at one end of the supported stack away from the neighboring stacked card adjacent thereto, and a transfer mechanism for withdrawing the bent stack end card from the supported stack; said suction mechanism including a pivotally movable suction element for seizing the end portion of the stack end card having an orifice, and a contact surface that includes an inclined surface portion, means connected with the suction element for pivotally moving the suction element between a pickup position at which the contact surface is adjacent a longitudinal side edge of, and in outside facial contact with the end portion of, the stack end card and another position that is pivotally offset from said pickup position, a vacuum source, a valve mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the vacuum source and orifice, and means connected to the suction element and establishing a pivot axis for the suc tion element which extends transversely of, and generally in parallel with, the outside face of the stack end card and which is generally located between the opposite ends of the stack end card; said surface portion of the contact surface being arranged to facially confront a corner portion of the end portion of the stack end card at the pickup position for the suction element and thereat being so oriented with respect to the normal position of the confronted corner portion as to be inclined outwardly from the corner portion in the general direction of the corner formed thereat by the merging edges of the stack end card, and said valve mechanism including a valve chamber which has an inlet communicating with said orifice, an outlet communicating with said vacuum source, and a valve seat at said outlet, a valve component arranged in the chamber to cooperate with the valve seat in opening and closing said outlet and being movable with respect to the valve seat between open and closed outlet positions, and valve component actuating means connected with the valve component; said orifice opening through said inclined surface portion and being connected with the vacuum source at the pickup position for the suction element, and said actuating means being connected in movement with the suction element and being responsive upon arrival of the suction element at its pickup position to actuate and move the valve component from its closed outlet position to its open outlet position, thereby to connect the orifice and vacuum source; whereby the corner portion is drawn into contact with said inclined surface portion at the pickup position for the suction element.

9. An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 8 where said actuating means comprises resilient means deformable during movement of the suction element from its other position to its pickup position by a pressure differential resisting withdrawal of the valve component from the valve seat and being adapted and arranged to actuate and move the valve component from its closed outlet position to its open outlet position by recovery from such deformation.

10. An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 8 where said actuating means comprises elongated torsion means having opposite ends and being arranged with its longitudinal axis in a coaxial arrangement with said pivot axis, said torsion means being connected at one of its opposite ends for pivotal movement with the suction clement about said pivot axis and being arranged to carry said valve component at the other of said ends, said torsion means being deformable during pivotal movement of the suction element from its other position to its pickup position by a pressure differential resisting withdrawal of the valve component from the valve seat and being adapted and arranged to actuate and move the valve component from its closed outlet position to its open outlet position by recovery from such deformation.

II An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 10 where said torsion means extends through said inlet.

12. An automatic picker mechanism in accord with claim 8 where the means for pivotally moving the suction element includes a movable pivot arm, where the suction mechanism further includes connecting means interconnecting the pivot arm and suction in movement and including a bell crank, a link interconnecting the pivot arm and one of the arms of said bell crank being arranged to carry said idler roll into inside facial contact with the end portion of the bent stack end card to thereat cooperate with the driven roll in withdrawing the bent stack end card from the supported stack. 

